Bowling-alley



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. SUESS. Bowling Alley. N0. 241,831. Patented May 24,1881.

N. PETERS, Plww-Ulholraphcr, WuhingioilY D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l5. SUESS. Bowling Alley. No. 241,831. Patented lVlay 24, 188|.

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l m Q Wlwg/s/em' RS /Ven/vff "y Zra'mfzaZ/YMJJ l A UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

FERDINAND SUESS, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

BOWLING-ALLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,831, dated May 24,1881.

Application tiled March 23, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND SUEss, citizen of the United States,residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderhurg and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBowling-Alleys; and I do -hereby declare that the following is a full,clear,

and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, makinga part of this specification, and to the letters an dfigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of my invention, showingthe interior construction thereof and operating` mechanism. Fig. 2 is anend view, partly in ',section; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly insection.

The present invention has relation to certain new and usefulimprovements in the construction and operating mechanism ofbowlingalleys, as illustrated in the drawings, hereinafter described,and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents theinclosin g-frame, ofan ysuitable dimensions, and of the required length to support a door orbed, et, upon which set the pins b, at the rear end thereof.

Below the bed c is arranged an inclined channel, B, running the entirelength of the bed, for returning the ball to the chamber c, where it iselevated to the position to be again projected forward against the pins.Each of the pins b has suitablyconnected to it a cord, d, which passesdown through a hole in the bed c, and connects with one end of a cord,c, said cord passing under and against a grooved pulley, f, to a lever,g, where it is connected to the end of said lever, so that the pins,when knocked down by the players, can be simultaneously set up again intheir proper places by the action of the lever. This lever gis pivotedto a short standard, h, and projects beyond said pivotal point, so as toform abearing for the end of a horizontal pivoted lever, C, to the outerend of which is connected a vertical operating-rod, D, which passes upthrough the framework A, in convenient reach of theplayer. The lever C,at its opposite end to which the rod D is connected, passes under ablock, E, looselyitting within the chamber c, said block being inclined(No model.)

upon its upper side, for the purpose hereinafter described.

A knocker, F, is suitably pivoted to a short standard, c', whichprojects the ball forward, over and along the bed a, against the pins b.The knocker F has connected to its lower end a vertical rod, G, foroperating it, said rod extending up through the frame A, in reach of theplayer, and when the knocker is brought forward, by depressing the rodG, a spring, 7c, throws said knocker back into position, again to beacted upon. .A hammer, l, suspended by a wire, cord, or other suitableconnection, strikes an alarm upon a bell, on, as the hall is passingalong over the block E.

The operation is as follows: When the player forces down the rodG,theknockerFis brought with force against a ball, x, which haspreviously been deposited upon the platform m in front of the knocker.By the action of the knocker against the ball, it is caused to beprojected along over the bed c with the necessary force against the pinsb to knock them down. The ball is returned to the player by firstpassing along and down the inclined channelB,into the chamber c, andupon the inclined block E, striking the hammer L, and forcing it againstthe bell m, which gives the signal that the ball is on the block E,ready to be elevated and deposited on the platform u in front oftheknocker. This last operation of bringing the ball in the position onthe platform, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, is as follows:TherodDbeing depressed brings one end of the lever U against the end ofthe lever g, which elevates that end to which the cord e is attached,pulling taut the several cords d, and causing the pins to stand erectand in the proper relative positions. Simultaneously with the depressingof the end of the lever C the opposite end is elevated, carrying with itthe inclined block E, which is raised to a distance sufficient tohringits upper inclined surface on a line with the platform u, when the ballwill roll down the incline onto theplatform n in front of theknocker F,to be again projected forward.

Although I have shown a hammer, l, and bell m as the means employed forsounding an alarm, any suitable signaling device may be used. Theprincipal object thereof is to indi- IOO cate when the ball has rolledinto position to be elevated. Should block E, however, be elevated toosoon, or before the ball was lodged thereon, the ball, as it entered thcchamber c under the block, would pass out a side opening, p, Where itmay be picked up by the attendant and placed in position on the platformn.

I order to guide the rods D G in their vertical movement and steadythem, 1 emplo)v suitable guides r s, which embrace said rods.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The inclined channel B and chamber c,

in combination with the inclined block E and means for elevating it, andthe platform n and knoeker F, substautiall)v as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination, with the inclinedehair nel B and block E, of thehammerl and bell m, or other suitable device for sounding an alarm orsignal by the rolling action of the ball, sub stantinlly as and for thepurpose specied.

3. The pins b, cords de, and lever -q,in combination with the lever Cand rod D, and the z 5 block E, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

4. The combination, with the elevating iuclined block E, chamber c, andplatform u, of the knoeker F, spring k, and rod G, Substan- 3o tially asand for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the inclined channel B and block E, of thechamber c, having platform u and side opening, p, substantially as andfor the purpose described. 35

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed myname inthe presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND SUESS.

Witnesses K. L. BACH, PHIL. VOELKER.

